Malaysian sees rise in blocked sites

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked access to 310 online gambling websites in the first six months of 2015.

Datuk Jailani Johari, Deputy Communication and Multimedia Minister, said that a total of 940 complaints had been submitted by authorities including the police, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

The complaints are on course to be double the 538 filed in 2014, when 325 were blocked during the entire 12 months.

“The ministry and the MCMC will not keep quiet, but will act by censoring and blocking online gambling or any other inappropriate websites to combat the online gambling activity which had raised public concern,” Johari said.

Johari said that the move was taken after the websites were found to be active in promoting and organising online gambling which is an offence under the Common Gaming House Act 1953.

While it is illegal to run or promote an online gambling operation in Malaysia, internet betting itself is a grey area as the nation’s gaming laws were written many years ago.